Cable connector

ABSTRACT

A closing lever is provided for housing-shaped cable connectors having an upper and a lower component on one of the housing components. This closing lever operates to close both housing components in conjunction with a cam on the other housing component. This configuration ensures reliable closing without special exertion of force for the purpose of virtually automatically connecting two cables to each other.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to a cable connector in the form of ahousing made up of at least two components which may be moved to comeinto contact with each other about an axis of rotation for electricallyconducting connection of a flat cable having a plurality of conductorsin the form of bunched conductors with at least one round cable alsohaving a plurality of conductors in the form of bunched conductors, witha housing upper component for reception of the bared conductors of theround cable with the insulation removed, laterally separated from eachother in the connection section provided inside the upper component ofthe housing, and having a housing lower component for reception of theflat cable, and with electrically conducting contacting elements onwhich the conductors of the round cable may be connected and which areprovided with cutting tips for perforation of the conductor insulatingmaterials and embedding in the strands of the conductors of the flatcable.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

One such cable connector, in which the multiple-conductor cables to beconnected to each other preferably are configured as flat cables on oneside and as round cables on the other, has been described in PCTApplication WO 03/021721.

In this disclosed cable connector the contacting elements are containedin an intermediate component forming a part of the housing uppercomponent. The contacting elements have cutting tips extending bothdownward and upward, so that connection of the two cables is effectedautomatically by compression of the housing components. Relatively highforce must be applied in order to carry out the closing process with therequired degree of certainty, regardless of whether the cutting tips ofthe contacting elements are to be pressed into both cables or into onlyone of them.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The object of this invention accordingly is to eliminate thisdisadvantage and provide means making it possible to close the cableconnector in a simple and cost-effective manner.

It is claimed for the invention that this object is attained with acable connector as defined in the foregoing having the characteristicsspecified in claim 1.

Specific embodiments of the cable connector claimed for the inventionare defined in the dependent claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING

The invention will be described in greater detail on the basis ofexemplary embodiments illustrated in the drawing, in which

FIG. 1 presents a section in the form of a diagram through a cableconnector claimed for the invention;

FIG. 2 a top view of the cable connector shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 another view of the cable connector shown in FIG. 1, with a sideof the U-shaped closing lever shown in detail; and

FIG. 4 a diagram of a section through an alternative embodiment of acable connector claimed for the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The housing-shaped cable connector shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 has a housingupper component 1 and housing lower component 2 which may be movedrelative to each other about an axis of rotation positioned on the leftside. The cable connector performs the function of connecting in asimple manner the conductors of a round cable 3 to the conductors of aflat cable 4.

The individual bared conductors 3′ of the round cable 3, which is heldat the entrance to housing upper component 1 by means of shackle 5, 5′,are connected to conducting contacting elements 6 (by means of clamps 7and screws 8).

The contacting elements 6 associated with the individual conductors 3′have cutting tips 6′ pointing downward which, when the two housingcomponents 1, 2 are moved together, automatically penetrate theinsulations and are embedded in the bunched conductors 4′ of the flatcable 4 and establish the electric connection desired.

In order that the forces required for moving the housing componentscompletely together may be applied, a closing lever 9 is coupled to thehousing upper component 1 as the core of this invention. The lever 9 isconfigured to be U-shaped and each side of the U is coupled to a side ofthe housing upper component 1.

Each side of the U is provided with a closing claw 10 which acts inconjunction with an associated cam 11 on opposite sides of housing lowercomponent 2 so that when the lever 9 is thrown, the two housingcomponents are pressed (and retained) against each other and the cuttingtips 6′ are pressed into the bunched conductors 4′ of the flat cable 4without special application of force.

FIG. 4 of the drawing presents a diagram of an alternative embodiment ofthe cable connector claimed for the invention. The substantialdifference is represented by the circumstance that there is associatedwith the housing upper component 1 an additional intermediate component1′ which performs the function of retaining the contacting elements 6.The latter have cutting tips 6′ and 6″ projecting both downward andupward.

The individual bared conductors 3′ of the round cable 3, are engaged bythe upper cutting tips 6″ without baring of the individual conductors 3′when the connector is closed and electric connection is therebyestablished (as is the case with the lower cutting tips 6′, whichpenetrate the bunched conductors 4′ of the flat cable). The closinglever 9 essential for the invention is provided in this instance as wellfor closing the cable connector.

1. A cable connector comprising a housing made up of at least twocomponents including a first component and a second component which aremovable angularly about an axis of rotation with respect to each otherso as to come into contact with each other and simultaneously providefor electrically conducting connection, when present therein, of a flatcable having a plurality of bunched conductors with at least one roundcable composed of a plurality of bunched conductors, wherein said firstcomponent is adapted to receive conductors of the at least one roundcable with insulation thereon removed to provide bared conductorslaterally separated from each other in a connection section providedinside the first component, and said second component is adapted toreceive the flat cable, wherein electrically conducting contactingelements to which the conductors of the round cable connect and whichinclude cutting tips for perforating insulation of the conductors andembedding in strands of the conductors of the flat cable, and a closinglever coupled at a distance from the axis of rotation with the firstcomponent, said closing lever having a first end and a second end, saidsecond end being arranged partially inside said first component andincluding a closing claw which is engagable with a stationary cam on thesecond component in such a way that the at least first component andsecond component move in a direction of closing to contact each otherfor reciprocal closing when the closing lever is actuated by action onsaid first end and to press the cutting tips into the conductors of theflat cable thereby connecting the flat cable and the round cabletogether upon actuation of the closing lever.
 2. The cable connector asclaimed in claim 1, wherein the first component comprises a covercomponent and an intermediate component positioned below the covercomponent for receiving conductors of the round cable which are notbared and which are to be connected, wherein the contacting elementshave cutting tips, which extend upward and downward for penetratingstrands of the round cable and the flat cable, are mounted and retainedin the intermediate component such that the cutting tips project fromtwo surfaces of the intermediate component opposite the cover componentsuch that when sandwich-like assembly of the cover component, theintermediate component, and the second component is provided by theclosing lever moving the first component and the second component intocontact with each other, electric connection is automaticallyestablished between said cover component, said intermediate componentand the second component.
 3. A cable connector comprising a housing madeup of at least two components including a first component and a secondcomponent which are movable angularly about an axis of rotation withrespect to each other so as to come into contact with each other andsimultaneously provide for electrically conducting connection, whenpresent therein, of a flat cable having a plurality of bunchedconductors with at least one round cable composed of a plurality ofbunched conductors, wherein said first component is adapted to receiveconductors of the at least one round cable with insulation thereonremoved to provide bared conductors laterally separated from each otherin a connection section provided inside the first component, and saidsecond component is adapted to receive the flat cable, whereinelectrically conducting contacting elements to which the conductors ofthe round cable connect and which include cutting tips for perforatinginsulation of the conductors and embedding in strands of the conductorsof the flat cable, and a closing lever coupled at a distance from theaxis of rotation with the first component, said closing lever having afirst end and a second end, said second end being arranged partiallyinside said first component and including a closing claw which isengagable with a stationary cam on the second component in such a waythat the at least first component and second component move in adirection of closing to contact each other for reciprocal closing whenthe closing lever is actuated by action on said first end and to pressthe cutting tips into the conductors of the flat cable therebyconnecting the flat cable and the round cable together upon actuation ofthe closing lever, wherein the closing lever has a U-shapedconfiguration and sides of the closing lever are coupled to one of theat least two components and each side includes a closing claw whichoperates in conjunction with an associated one of said stationary cam.4. The cable connector as claimed in claim 3, wherein the firstcomponent comprises a cover component and an intermediate componentpositioned below the cover component for receiving conductors of theround cable which are not bared and which are to be connected, whereinthe contacting elements have cutting tips, which extend upward anddownward for penetrating strands of the round cable and the flat cable,are mounted and retained in the intermediate component such that thecutting tips project from two surfaces of the intermediate componentopposite the cover component such that when sandwich-like assembly ofthe cover component, the intermediate component, and the secondcomponent is provided by the closing lever moving the first componentand the second component into contact with each other, electricconnection is automatically established between said cover component,said intermediate component and the second component.